Improvement in cushions, mattresses



aaa ses am' @we .he provided with four i posits sidesof the spring, the lugs of' one spring bel THOMAS H. Osamu, or raovrnnnca- RHODE ISLAND.

. Leners Patent No. 103,043, dated oaobere, 1870.

limPnovlawn-:nr INcusHloNs, MATTREssEs, ac;

The Schedule referredl tov in these Letters Patent and malxing part 'of the same To Acll `whom `it may concern; l

Beit known that I, lrroMAs'IL OBiunx, of the city and county of Providece, in the State of Rhode Island, have invented a new and useful Improvement in OushionsfMat-tresses, &c. i

i My invention is designed as au improvement on the ordinary'spiralewire springsnnowy so commonly used in 'cushions and' mattresses.; andthe same consists in forming the springsof'inated India-rubber balls, which are connected `.by means of a projecting rim formed with eaclispring during the process of molding, as hereafter described; and I do hereby declare that the. following is a,` full, clear,.` and exact 4description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying rdrawing forming `partwot` this specification, and in whichj ,l i. i i 4Figure 1 represents a perspective view of a cushion `provided with vmy improved springs,aiportion of the covering being removed.

Figure 2 represents a longitudinal vertical section Aof l*the same. y i. Figure 3 'represents atsectionalwiew of a portion of mold, showing `the manner in which the springs are iormed.` i

A represents the` casing'or covering of au ordinarycushion or seat v f i i j B infeach case represents the inated Indiairubber springs. j l i t These springs l `form in a mold, partly shown in iig.

3, the casingU of which is `constructed Vin two sections, which are provided with molds, D, for the fori mation of as many spiingslas "may, be desired.

`During the molding-process, each'spring is provided with a projecting rim, E, which is formed at or near the center of the sprilaigs,fand forms a connection between them.A Insteadof therim E, each'spring may projecting lugs or ears, at oping connected-with'tho'se of the other bymeans of rivets, or in any other suitable manner.'

Heretofore' mattresses orfcushions have been constructed `by" being stuffed with small India-rubber balls, b utwit will be seen that my improved method of forming the springs possesses many advantages over such construction. When a number Iof rubber balls isplaccd loosely in aY mattress or cushion, they are liable to be forced in a mass to one side or end of the cushion by the 4,pressure vofthebody upon them. This disadvantage is readily overcomeV by my method'ot constructing the springs, they remaining always in one position when placediin a cushion or mattress.

When any number of springs, say, for example, four or six,has been formed in the mold, they may be removed all connected,ran`d, having been placed in f a suitablefcasing or'covering, thcyform, as it were, a

framework around which thehair or other suitable packing-material may be placed, as shown in the drawing.` IVhen one spring becomes damaged in any Inanner, so as to cause thc air to escape, the cushion will not become useless, as others still remain.

When the springs are constructed larger than at presentl contemplated, Idesign placing through the centerof the spring, on a line with the projecting rim, a horizontalV partition, so as to forni two air-chambers in the spring instead of one. In suclrcases, when the spring becomes injured on one side, the effect produced on the cushion is less than where the spring isv formed with only' one chamber. a

Although my invention may b e used in mattresses,

cushions,l andseats of all kinds, it is especially dei sirable in the construction of mattresses vfor use on board of ships, the inflated l`India-rubber springs rendering the mattress an excellent life-preserver.

Having thus described my invention, l v Iuclaimvasnewand desire to secure by Let-ters Patent;- Y Y.

In combination with the sacks of acushion or mattress, withor without al fibrous filling, the air-springs B, provided with the projections E, and connected together'substantially in the manner described. v

'i .THOMAS EL OBRIEN.' `Witnesses: J osnPrLG. J ourson, JOHN G. TUFTs. 

